Common Health Issues

Urogenital System Disorders

• By Rich Health Editorial Team
• March 11, 2024

The urogenital system—sometimes called the urinary tract—consists of the kidneys, the ureters that connect the kidneys with the bladder, the urethra that carries off the urine from the bladder, and—in men—the prostate gland as well.

 

It is estimated that millions of people suffer from kidney-related diseases. 

Urogenital System Disorders

Some of the disorders or diseases of the urogenital system are:

 

Bladder Diseases

Bladder diseases are the most common urogenital diseases and the various types of bladder diseases are:

 

Cystitis

An infection of the bladder called cystitis is the most common of the bladder diseases, particularly in women. Normally, cystitis is only a nuisance, but if neglected it can lead to kidney infection. Prompt medical care is essential.

 

Symptoms include a frequent and urgent need to urinate, although little urine is passed; burning or pain during urination; and the presence of blood in the urine. Diagnosis involves urine tests and a cystoscopy—and examination with a cystoscope, a periscope-like device that is passed through the urethra and allows the doctor to see into the bladder.

 

The problem may be cleared up with antibiotics or sulfa drugs. Victims may have to drink at least two quarts of fluid a day while avoiding coffee, tea, alcohol or highly seasoned foods. The patient may have to eat certain foods to make the urine either acidic or alkaline.

 

Bladder Tumors

These tumors can be malignant (cancerous) or benign, and polyps may occur. Bladder tumors are often caused by such substances as aniline dyes, nicotine, or other products that are passed in the urine. The symptoms are similar to those of cystitis, and treatment is the same as for other tumors.

 

Bladder Stones

These stones form in the bladder or enter the bladder from the kidney. Symptoms of bladder stones are generally similar to those of bladder tumors, but if the urinary canal is blocked by a stone, the pain is intense. A stone can be removed through a cystoscope or crushed internally so that the pieces are passed in the urine. Sometimes the formation of additional stones can be prevented by means of diet or medication.

 

 

Prostate Troubles

The prostate gland, situated at the base of a man’s bladder, causes problems for about half of men over the age of 50. The warning signs of prostate trouble are blood or pus in the urine, a weak or defective urinary flow, the frequent urge to urinate—often waking sufferers at night—along with difficulty in starting or stopping the flow, and painful urination

 

Prostatis

This is an inflammation or congestion of the prostate gland that seem to occur when the gland is under- or over-active. The symptoms are similar to those mentioned above. A medical consultation is necessary.

 

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

This noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland is common in middle-aged men. The symptoms are the same as those given above, and they occur because the gland, which enfolds the urethra, enlarges and squeezes the urethra shut. Treatment is by means of a variety of surgical operations, including reaming out or removing the gland in whole or in part.

 

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is as mysterious as it is deadly; its cause is unknown, its symptoms not fully understood, and its treatment uncertain. Methods of treatment include surgery, therapy with female sex hormones, irradiation, and chemotherapy. Discovery of prostate cancer is possible through a simple examination—the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the gland. Experts advise this examination annually for men over the age of 40—and semi-annually for those over 50.